Durmukhi Vaikasi Sravanam (May 27th 2016) was the 9th day of Brahmotsavam at Kanchi Varadaraja Perumal temple. Varadan left on Aal mel pallaku at 4.30 a. m. Aal mel pallaku is a kind of golden palanquin with beautifully crafted designs. There is a cover provided by the crimson velvet canopy with sankhu chakram tiruman. There are two figurines in the front and two at the rear standing on pedestals and holding a big bamboo rod. Aal means men and these men statues have given the name ‘aal mel pallaku’ to the vahanam of the day. Varadan’s alamkaram is a covering of shawls or porvais sans garlands. All along the way devotees handed over jasmine strands for Perumal. On reaching ‘Gangai kondan mandapam’ ‘porvai kalaintal’ took place that is one shawl after the other were removed and the last shawl called glass porvai locally (it is actually a transparent shawl) is removed .
During Tirumbukal (return) Varadan wears regular garlands but He is denied entry inside the temple. The Ubhaya nachimars are angry with Varadan and shut the door on His Face. This is known as ‘pranaya kalaham’. Mattayadi as it is also known illustrates that quarrels are common in matrimony but they should not be carried forward and couples should forgive and forget and learn to adjust with each other. Infact when a quarrel is made up the love that ensues is holy.
Once our Nachimars are convinced of Varadan’s love for Them They join Him and all Three proceed to the hundred pillared mandapam where Tiruaradhanam takes place. The interesting thing to note is that both Nachimars stand to the right of Varadan. Also Pranatharthihara Varadan joins them during worship. Pranatharthihara varada is the nitya Tirumanjana murthi and the bhattar swami who is garlanded carries Him on his head. All the holy rivers are invoked and enter Anantha saras. The bhattar swami takes the dip along with Pranatharthiharan. This year Srimad Azhagiasingar who has been present throughout the utsavam also took a dip. Thousands of devotees took a dip in the Ananthasaras which always has Attivaradan inside, and today Pranatharthiharan, a Tridandi sanyasi and thousands of Srivaishnavas purified the water. It was the fortunate who got this oppurtunity in Satyavrathakshetram.
In the evening Swami Desikan came from Thoopul in purappadu on the mada veedhis of Varadarajaperumal temple. That day’s vahanam for Perumal was ‘Punyakoti vimanam’. Incidentally this is the vimanam in which Varadan emerged from Brahma’s ‘yaaga kundam’. Sighting the punyakoti vimanam brings in a crore of punyams. This purappadu was a long one lasting almost 8 hours.
The highlight of this purappadu was the Thoopul visit of Varadan and His ubhayanachimars. At Thoopul Varadan’s garlands were presented to swami Desikan and pancha mudra maryadhai was accorded to him.
It was a grand sight to see The King of devas and the king of acharyas come together. It was late night when Perumal’s purappadu returned and was offered ghata harathi.
Evening
Photos: Sri Krishna Durai, Sri Tirumundi Krishnan, Write – up: Smt Vyjayanthi Rajan
